Any advice for a vomiting cougher?

[MujosMama]

My middle son is 16 months and has had colds/coughs on and off for pretty much the last 6-8 months. I'm not concerned about this, he's regularly COVID tested and I know it's all part of building up his immunity as he was pretty much cold-free last year due to lack of exposure. My issue is that he regularly coughs so much at night that he makes himself sick. I spoke with the GP and she confirmed that this is common and nothing to worry about. I've also looked on a couple of websites and it does seem to be a well known and common thing, where they lay down at night and the mucus triggers their gag reflex.

My question is whether there's anything I can do about it?? Apart from being unpleasant for him and us, its causing real issues for me having to keep him off nursery on a regular basis as we both work full time. He's absolutely fine in himself. He still has milk at night time without which he's very hard to settle, but I have no reason to think it's a reaction to the milk (he has dairy products through the day with no issues). He moves around a lot at night, generally settling on his front or side, and is in a low bed, so I can't raise him up using a pillow or anything like that.

Anyone got any suggestions?? We've tried giving him calpol before bed and it's made no difference

Does paracetamol stop you from coughing? I doubt it, so it's no different for a baby.

I don't think you can stop him being sick from coughing, I'm nearly 40 and still this happens to me.

Also, to raise the head of the bed, but a pillow under the mattress.

I'd try putting some books or wooden blocks under the head end of the bed legs.

Raise the end of the bed slightly from underneath using books /blocks.

Just keep an eye though. DS2 was like that, and was eventually diagnosed with asthma. He was a changed child once he started on inhalers.

I had a cough till you vomit toddler. At that age they still have floppy larynx’ which causes build up of mucus blocking airway leading to vomiting.

They do grow out of it but whilst I was a SaHM at the time my friends would have sent their kids in as “not ill”. Having the window open for some fresh air and vicks infused hankies tied to the bed frame help a little.

@Iknowtheanswer

Raise the end of the bed slightly from underneath using books /blocks.

Just keep an eye though. DS2 was like that, and was eventually diagnosed with asthma. He was a changed child once he started on inhalers.

Thank you to all the suggestions to raise the bed from underneath the mattress or under the legs, I'll give that a go tonight.

Re the ashmtha, did you notice any other symptoms?? I haven't noticed any issues with his breathing other than this cough.

My husband also has a very sensitive gag reflex, and this particular child also pukes if eg you try and syringe medicine into him when he's not in the mood, so I do think it's just something we all have to live with

Ooh! Vicks infused hankies is a good one. I have tried putting children's olbas oil on the pillows but no joy. We have been reluctant to open the window as this one is a Houdini who manages to get himself everywhere, we have a real concern about him pulling his little armchair over to the window and climbing out

My first thought was asthma too. The first symptom is very often a persistent night time cough. Maybe suggest that to your GP?

@TheFairyCaravan

My first thought was asthma too. The first symptom is very often a persistent night time cough. Maybe suggest that to your GP?

My instinct is that it's linked to him having colds as he only does it when he's snotty. But if it persists, then I'll do that thank you

We had a cough until you vomit child too, finally grew out of it at nearly 4! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
However I would still send him to nursery as I knew he wasn’t actually ill. We used to sit in our en-suite with the shower running to try and steam him up.
Ibruprofen works better than paracetamol. It might not stop the cough but I found he was getting upset as it hurt his throat which caused him to cough more. Used to give ibruprofen at bedtime and then at 1/2am if needed.

Asthma was my first thought.

My ds was like this, they put him on inhalers for a little while but he grew out of it. Like yours, it only appeared when he had a bit of a cold and he also has a terrible gag reflex. Unfortunately the gag reflex hasn't gone away, he can't even stick his tongue out with gagging
I found a pillow under mattress helped him and also airing the room until bedtime.

Lift the head of the bed with a book under each corner, and ask the GP if you can have a trial of inhaler for asthma.

My two were like this for a good few years. I used Huggies Bed Mats under the sheet to protect the mattresses. They grew out of it eventually.

Thank you for all your help and suggestions!! I will definitely go back to my GP if this continues. Asthma never even occurred to me until you guys suggested it. In the mean time I'll try to make him more comfortable as much as I can. Right, off to tumble dry the sheets yet again..

When he has a cough just keep the meals smaller and lighter so that his stomach is not so full. Appetite often goes anyway so don't over encourage him to finish meals.

@Disneycharacter

When he has a cough just keep the meals smaller and lighter so that his stomach is not so full. Appetite often goes anyway so don't over encourage him to finish meals.

I've never thought that was healthy anyway. My kids can choose to eat as much as they like. At 16 months he's not eating a great deal anyway, but when he throws up he's really emptying his stomach to the point of only producing mucus - last night the green beans he had at 1pm were still a bit visible alongside the pasta he had for dinner! So I don't think he's overfull